A story of a 37 year old woman named Alex, working through the trials of infertility, and now raising a little Alex...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Awkward...

I’ve been working on scheduling everything for the additional testing that Dr. Sher requested. First, the blood work. This special lab is sending me a blood collection kit, and then I have to have a phlebotomist come out to my house to collect my blood, put it in the kit, and send it to the lab. Weird, but kind of cool. I have it scheduled for next Tuesday.

And then I needed to schedule the saline/fluid ultrasound. Talk about difficult! Dr. Sher said any OB/GYN can do it, so I called my regular OB/GYN, and his nurse called me back, telling me that he doesn’t do those, instead call this fertility clinic. Um, yeah, that’s the clinic I’ve been going to for a year… I didn’t want to call them, so I called the local hospital, the same place where I got my HSG last year. I left them two messages, they never called me back. Finally today I was able to get to a human on the phone – dumbest guy ever. I asked for a saline, or fluid ultrasound, or sonohysterogram, trying to get him to understand me. He didn’t know what I was talking about. He kept putting me on hold, asking me to wait while he asked someone else. He came back asking if I needed a pelvic ultrasound after drinking 32 ounces of water! Um no, they shoot water up my uterus. He then got all uncomfortable when I started talking about my uterus… He didn’t know what IVF was, “IBF?” “No, in-vitro fertilization.” “What are you fertilizing?” Finally he was able to tell me that I had the wrong department – I need to talk to surgery. “OK, please transfer me.” At least the lady there was able to tell me quickly that the hospital doesn’t do these. “OK, so where do I go?” “I don’t know.” Thanks, lady – you’re very helpful.

So finally I called my regular RE, and asked to speak with a nurse. I uncomfortably explained the situation to one of the younger nurses: I talked with another doctor, I may be doing IVF with someone else, but he wants me to do a fluid ultrasound. She said they do them in the office, but first I need to have a consult with the doctor to make sure that’s what he wants to do! I explained that I already have a next-step consult scheduled for Monday, and she was happy. The thing is the doc doesn’t like fluid ultrasounds, he generally recommends hysteroscopy instead, since while they’re up there with the scope, they can correct anything they find. I asked about timing, and she said it needs to be done between day 8 and 10. Yeah, I’m on day 7 today. Then she said, it’s going to be too late, UNLESS you’re on birth control pills! Uh yes, I just so happen to be on birth control pills…

And since it was already so awkward, I asked her, “So if I choose to go to another doctor for IVF, can I still come to you guys for betas and ultrasound after the IVF?” She asked another nurse, and the answer was yes! So awkward. I feel like I’m cheating on my doctor. It’s like switching hairdressers, but still asking the old hairdresser to keep cutting my bangs. Have any of you ladies done this? Especially those that have gone out of town for IVF? Now I have to go to the doctor consult on Monday and explain that we may go to another doctor for IVF, but please help me anyway. Should be fun…

In related news, I sent Dr. Sher an email asking if a hysteroscopy would be fine, instead of a fluid ultrasound. Within an hour, I received an email from his head nurse, saying it would be fine. She was very nice in her email, answered my question, and I was pleased, felt like I had the answer I needed. But then about an hour later, I received a voicemail from Dr. Sher himself, explaining that I can do a hysteroscopy, but make sure they don’t scrape the lining of the uterus. If they find a polyp, they can snip it off, but make sure there are instructions to not scrape the lining as there wouldn’t be sufficient lining the next month. I love the attention that I get from this guy. And that’s all we want, right? Just a little love and attention…

Oh, and just to clarify some of the comments – I’m not doing your typical “Mini-IVF”. The Micro-IVF, as described by Dr. Sher, differs from the Mini-IVF’s as Mini’s typically use clomid or some other kind of drug instead of injectibles. The Micro-IVF that I’m doing really only differs from a conventional IVF in that there’s a little less monitoring, and there’s no ICSI. The conventional IVF at SIRM includes ICSI. So based on what I understand, there’s really no difference, except it’s cheaper… And they’re not “hard” protocols because they expect that they will be able to get lots of eggs from the drugs they give me. Interesting stuff though!

What a nightmare! All except for Dr. Sher and his wonderful thoughtfulness. It seems like you are in excellent hands. If I need IVF for my next one, I am totally going to him!I hope you get everything done on time!!! OOOh stressful! But exciting!

iv-what??? fertili-what? freaking idiot. sorry you had to chase your tail all day trying to get an intelligent answer to what seems like a very basic question. i'd feel bad about cheating too on my RE, but not TOO bad. it's not like you're going to his competitor, you're going to dr SHER, and that is a BIG difference. you're pulling out the big guns. i'm sure your RE will understand. don't feel bad, just put yourself first and i hope everything else falls in place so that you can do this soon!! xoxo.

I am glad you got this figured out. I can see how this feels like cheating on your RE, but you got do what you got to do. They are still getting paid for the test so it is win/win. Sounds like Dr. Sher is on top of things and it is great that he gets back to you so regularly, amazing. Good luck with everything!!!!!

"What are you fertilizing?"?? Wow. Priceless. I wish you didn't have to go through all the awkwardness, but I'm glade it seems like you're getting what you need, even if you have to speak to everyone in creation beforehand.

Can i just say "oy." Yeesh, definitely awkward. Glad you got it if figured out and very glad that Dr. Sher has been so awesome.

I sympathize with the changing doctors issue. It's stressing me out to no end to try to switch to another doctor and get info from my previous one. Especially since I don't know if I'll stay with the new one or not.

Wow, apart from the ridiculous phone call this is great progress :) Dr Sher sounds amazing! Sooo happy for you. This IVF process sounds good. I didn't have a ton of monitoring either, and it was fine. Glad to hear it's cheaper too!

hello, i found you on ICLW. our stories sound very similar. i am 36, went off BCP in june '08, have PCOS, got pregnant on my 4th IUI in november '09, had a perfectly normal pregnancy for 25 weeks until my son's cord prolapsed. incompetent cervix. so now we start again. we go back to our RE in 2 weeks to find out where to go from here.

anyway, i'm glad you are feeling so good about your new doctor, and am excited about your upcoming IVF! wishing you lots of sticky baby dust!

It sounds like things are really coming together for you, even with all the awkwardness of people who don't know what IVF is, and going to a top specialist for the actual procedure, then asking your regular doc to do all your follow-up.

I'm so excited for you! Good for you for persevering and getting the answers and help you need.

I love how Sirm will either communicate via phone or email...They get back to you so much faster via email:)

I wouldnt worry about cheating on your RE if you were getting the care and attention you needed with results you wouldnt have talked to Dr. Sher but you havent so its time to move on:) I know when I went to Sirm they did the first couple of beta's and the first two US then I was released to my Regular OB/Gyn...Do you have an OB? You may just want to go through them for you US/BW..Just so things arent awkward

So frustrating the talk to the guy on the phone!! I had also done the SIS (at my clinic, here it's quite specialised procedure, not every OB does it at all) but had I known better I would definitely had done a hysteroscopy at that time (which I did two years later!). Keeping everything crossed for you!

oh and yes, my clinic does satellite service as well, I never switched but I know patients who did switch and then used them for u/s and blood works! You are not alone!Love, Fran

Oi, that sounds awkward indeed! And (possibly) switching must feel weird -- in fact, we've briefly been thinking about doing treatments here soonish, and would then also consider switching to another clinic, and it all feels awkward to me, too. But glad that Dr. Sher and his nurses are answering so quickly!

"An ultrasound after drinking 32 ounces of water," "IBF?" and "what are you fertilizing?"--I don't want to know what department actually had this guy on the phone. Keep your sense of humor! Too funny. Good luck getting all the tests and lab work you need from your old clinic.

I have been way behind on reading blogs - it sounds like you have had some major developments. How exciting to be moving ahead with something so quickly! And I love that this doctor is in Vegas, I am sure lots of people "make" babies in Vegas! It is interesting that he said that the baby aspirin and lovenox are not necessary to treat your MTHFR. My RE says the same thing but told me I could take it if it made me feel better, so I have been taking baby aspirin since Monday. It does make me feel better that this doctor, who is so well known, shares the opinion of my doc. Good luck with getting all of your ducks in a row for the IVF in December!

I like how careful he's being, and thoughtful, too. I'm also glad that your current clinic can do things like blood draws and betas. I've switched RE's twice and it always feels...strange. Like you're switching loyalties. But your number one loyalty is to yourself, to go with someone good, who makes you feel comfortable. And I'm so glad that this is happening for you.

Oh my gosh you live in a place of idiots. That would have frustrated the crap out of me. And there is only one clinic that does anything infertility related where you live? You need to move out to where I am. There are PLENTY. If you don't like one, you go down the road to the next one. :D Your situation would be very awkward. I would feel like a turn coat too.

It is awesome the Dr. Sher is so accommodating. The man obviously loves his job, and that speaks multitudes. You know he will take good care of you because he already is. That is awesome and so comforting. To me, that says he will increase your odds of getting pregnant. I'm so glad you found this doctor.

Additionally, never help to make almost any blatant responses related to the woman race, such a because "I rarely like dark women, but they're alluring. Pauline on the other hand, chose an identity she could be content with; so she was somehow satisfied with her identity. They spend a lot of time and money on it so she will really appreciate it when you tell her how much you like it.

About Me

I always wanted to be called Alex, and nobody listened to me. I dreamed of the day when I would have my own daughter to call my own, and I would call her Alex. My dream has come true...
Feel free to email me at adventuresofalex @ gmail . com

8/10 - Received diagnosis of compound heterozygous MTHFR mutation - one C677T and one A1298C mutation. Researching implications. Add Folgard 2.2 2x per day and baby aspirin - for the rest of my life...